Item 1: Call the meeting to order – Chair Dorr called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. All members were present: Chair Dorr, Selectperson Ciembroniewicz, and Selectperson Whittlesey

Item 2: Consideration of the minutes from October 23, 2007 meeting – The Board reviewed the minutes. Selectperson Ciembroniewicz moved to accept the minutes, seconded by Selectperson Whittlesey. The vote was 3-0 in favor.

Item 3: Comments from the Public – Joanne Reinhart, Bowdoinham’s School Board representative, introduced herself to the Select Board and presented a draft of proposed cuts in SAD 75’s transportation, special education and administrative budgets as required in the School Consolidation Law. Ms. Reinhart briefed the Board of the School Board’s work thus far in the Consolidation Efforts as well as the School Board’s concern with the consolidation process. Although SAD 75 may decide not to consolidate with another school system, the Education Commissioner has made it clear that the District is not to pursue this option until it first pursues consolation with Lisbon. When asked by Selectperson Ciembroniewicz if the School Board was concerned that Bowdoinham may lose its community school, Ms. Reinhart replied that though there is no evidence of this, it was a universal concern among the School Board members. Also, the School Board is concerned that while the state will save money with consolidation, local property taxes may increase. Ms. Reinhart also briefed the Select Board on Mt. Ararat High School’s current accreditation process.

Item 4: New Business

A. Report on Transportation Meeting with Jeff Sneddon & Rich Rothe – The Town Manager briefed the Board on the recent meeting with Jeff Sneddon, Midcoast Council for Business Development and Planning and its Transportation Planner, Rich Rothe. As a result of the meeting, MCBD&P has agreed to give planning services to Bowdoinham to assist the town in its development of a Transportation Vision Statement and Transportation Plan. The Town Manager recommended that the planner work with the Biking, Walking and Paddling Group as it is consistent with the group’s mission statement. Selectperson Whittlesey advised that the BWPG look at the issue creatively, broadly and regionally. Selectperson Dorr requested that the group work cooperatively with the current Land Use Revision Group to ensure a cohesive and unified Land Use Plan.

B. Solid Waste Committee – The Town Manager reported that seven individuals had expressed interest in serving on the Solid Waste Committee and asked that the Board consider appointing all seven members. She introduced Elaine Diaz to the Board who was present at the meeting. Ms. Diaz explained that she had been on the original Solid Waste Committee that set up the present recycling program. She stated that she was pleased with the outcome of the original committee’s work and was looking forward to evaluating the program twenty years after its inception. The Board welcomed Ms. Diaz to the Solid Waste Committee and agreed to appoint seven members to the new committee.

C. General Assistance Ordinance – schedule public hearing to adopt the MMA Model Ordinance GA Appendices (A-C_ for the period of October 1, 2007 – October 1, 2008 and Appendix F (Maximum for Personal Care & Household Supplies) as revised September 2007 – The Town Manager gave an overview of the changes to the ordinance as proposed by the State of Maine. She explained that the Board has the authority to increase the amount given for housing assistance, beyond those recommended by the State, if the Board determined that the levels were inadequate to pay for local rentals. The Board scheduled a Public Hearing on November 20th to hear public comment.

D. Grow Smart Summit Conference – Selectperson Ciembroniewicz presented an overview of the Grow Smart Conference that he attended on October 19, 2007. A message from the keynote speaker, Ronald Heifetz from the Kennedy School of Government was the challenge and importance of adaptive capacity in relation to change. Entities, in order to survive, must be able to adapt to changes. This holds true for towns. If towns, like Bowdoinham, can adapt to the changes that occur (i.e. fire of 1902, loss of shipbuilding, etc) then it will be able to survive those changes. Selectperson Ciembroniewicz found the conference to be informative especially now that Bowdoinham is looking at revising its land use ordinances.

E. Topsham Redevelopment Authority – Selectperson Whittlesey presented an overview of the final report of the Topsham Redevelopment Authority. Selectperson Whittlesey was Bowdoinham’s representative on the Redevelopment Authority and reported that it was now up to the Implementation Committee, appointed by the Governor, to implement its recommendations. He stated that one of the challenges before the Implementation Committee will be the housing units on the annex. Though the land is publicly conveyed, the housing units are currently held in a fifty year lease with a private company.

F. Winter Sand Purchase Agreement – The Town Manager asked the Board to consider a purchase agreement with Card Construction to purchase winter sand for the next three years for a fixed price of $6.50 per cubic yard. She reported that the Town had solicited prices only from nearby suppliers as this was the pickup price and not the delivery price. With the purchase of the 12 yard wheeler, the Town is now able to pickup its own winter sand, eliminating private trucking costs. Selectperson Whittlesey moved to approve the Winter Sand Purchase Agreement with Card Construction for a three year period, seconded by Selectperson Ciembroniewicz. The vote was 3-0 in favor.

Item 5: Town Manager’s Report –

A. Excise Taxes – The Town Manager reported that the vehicle excise taxes received to date are $8,420 over the amount received for the same time period last year.